The Jehovah Witness Cult

Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia - Expert Opinion of Galitskaya and
Metlik on the content of the Teachings and practice of the activity of
Jehovah's Witnesses

The missing girl {Sarah
Payne} wanted to let someone know what was going on. Looks very
familiar! Sure looks reptilian to me! Also sure makes you wonder why the
big news stations aren't interested in what lies beneath the tragic and
mystifying double murder of the young Moore boys or this missing girl.
Print this if you want to. Many people call and give their support. They
say it is about time the Moore case is reopened. Only a very few people
believe it was suicide. One is my brother's daughter who is forbidden to
talk or associate with her Aunt because of the manulipulation and control
of the Jehovah Witness Cult. I can call it a Cult without getting in
trouble because in Russia there is a warning about it on their site.

General information about the religious organisation of Jehovah's
Witnesses.

The religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses came
into existence in the 70s of the 19th century, when a certain
C.T. Russell founded its first group in USA. He decided to present the
public with another interpretation of the Bible and in that way to form a
new cult. The creation of personal, 'original' interpretations of the
Bible is typical of late Protestantism. The process of formation of those
new cults and sects was especially active in USA, because, originally,
traditional Christianity had less influence there than in Europe. It is
known, that Protestantism completely or partially rejects the Church
Tradition i.e. all of the Christian culture (dogma, divine service,
sacrament and ceremony, church hierarchy, etc.), with the exception of one
part of its Tradition - the Bible, the Holy Scriptures. Thus, this causes
a rapture, a gap with historical Christian tradition and opens the way for
endless emergings of new 'Christian teachings and beliefs'. If any
follower of a given reformer disagrees with him then a new cult is formed,
which in turn undergoes divisions. At present, the experts in religious
studies number up to 130 more or less stable groups with teachings of
Protestant origin and report that new cults of this kind appear all the
time, including in this country also.

In 1789 the first issue of "Zion's Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Presence" was published. From Pennsylvania this
cult spread to the other states of USA and in 1884 Zion's Watch Tower
Society was officially formed. Since 1909 the centre of the organisation
has been in Brooklyn, New York.

A new interpretation of the Bible alone cannot produce
a new religious organisation. For this a certain new system of dogma is
required and, what is more, a rigid hierarchical structure to force the
cult into the masses, to recruit new followers and spread doctrine. That
is why from the very beginning and up to this day the main activity of the
members of the organisation is to spread the information about the cult
and recruit new members. It is called 'witnessing'. Visiting private
houses, flats, establishments, enterprises, talking to the passers-by in
the streets, neighbours, colleagues at work, this is done in a massed and
thorough way, rather like a salesman who will not miss any opportunity to
sell his goods. The whole system is working on the principle of a
commercial enterprise, which it, as a matter of fact, is. Because of this,
similar organisations in the West were refused to be registered as a
religion, for example the famous church of Scientology of Ron Habbard.

In 1916 after the death of the founder of the cult, J.
Rutherford had become his successor. The number of members in the
organisation and the printing of publications had increased. In 1931 the
organisation adopted the name of Jehovah's Witnesses in order to
"distinguish themselves from the denominations of Christendom". /5/
By that time the activity of the sect acquired a scandalous reputation and
caused opposition by the early Protestant groups, traditionally
influential in USA, and opposition by the government. Numerous court cases
followed, where Witnesses were trying to reject the accusations brought
against them by the governmental, religious and public organisations,
including relatives of the members of the cult and people who broke off
their connections with the cult. In 1940's vigorous missionary activity
started in different parts of the world causing court examinations and
scandals. In 1976 the governing system of the cult was reformed, and now
the organisation is governed by the Governing Body, that presently
consists of 11 people. Besides the 'religious activities' and the
corresponding propaganda provisions, like publication and dissemination of
literature, the Corporation is engaged in production of other goods and
services, including food stuffs. They own extensive property, land,
buildings, hotels and enterprises. Their workers "receive small
amount of money for personal expences."/5/

For the last few decades researchers in this country
and abroad have actively been studying the phenomenon of the so called
destructive cults. In this country the most commonly and frequently used
term for destructive cults is 'totalitarian sects', the term 'anti-social
cult' is also used. For the last 5-7 years the problem of destructive
cults has become especially pressing in Russian society, this is because
of the large-scale activity of such cults. The effects of their activities
can be likened to a natural disaster, presenting a global catastrophic
threat to the national culture and mentality. Major prerequisites enabling
their sectarian propaganda to reach such catastrophic results are: low
level of spiritual culture of Russian people, who have lost experience in
religious matters, being artificially torn off from religious life for the
time period of the last three generations; also the critical state of
economical and political conditions in the country, causing instability
and conflicts; and also, especially organised and massed sectarian
propaganda, with all imaginable means, that finances and technical
achievements can provide, at their finger tips.

It should be noted that in the West, where the majority
of such cults had started, they have accumulated rather sufficient amount
of information about their activities and have acquired appropriate
legislation, providing adequate defence of the members of society from
their influences. It still needs to be done in this country, meanwhile
destructive cults are given carte blanche.

Destructive cults (totalitarian sects) are
defined as special authoritarian and hierarchical organisations
identifying themselves as: religious, political-religious, psycho-therapeutical,
convalescent, educational, as being engaged in study of science, culture,
art and so on. They

- practice fraudulent recruitment
- control the consciousness of their members
- use psychological pressure, fear and other illegitimate methods to keep
their members in the organisation
- direct their members and their organisation to denial of all existing
religious and cultural values
- create an aggressive attitude towards the traditional ways of life of
people.

The activity of any association with global
anti-cultural orientation, that denies all human culture and experience
in their totality, except their own , can be called sectarian, and as such
can be named a sect.

The complete analysis of religious beliefs, teachings
and other aspects of Jehovah's Witnesses' activities, combined with the
definitions given above, positively allow to ascribe their organisation to
the rank of destructive cults (totalitarian sects).

Characteristics of a destructive cult (totalitarian
sect) in the beliefs and teachings of the religious organisation of
Jehovah's Witnesses.

Their whole eschatology, the whole complex of teachings
that they are spreading (the idea of the future, 'the end of the world'
and 'new life'), undoubtedly are of danger to society. These ideas compose
a so called 'nerve' of the whole doctrine and are most actively used to
draw in new members, intimidate and keep them. The idea of the approaching
end of the world, global catastrophe, that is being spread by Jehovah's
Witnesses, is a typical example of provoking massed psychosis, which is
highly amoral. A recent experience of the local sect "White
Brotherhood" could be recalled to give an idea of how dangerous the
spreading of Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings could be for society.

Especially dangerous is the belief of Jehovah's
Witnesses that a global catastrophe is going to happen very soon, it can
literally happen at any time. This puts the leaders of the sect into a
predicament, making them hostages of their own 'theories', because global
catastrophe means loss of their power. The organisation of Jehovah's
Witnesses stated that after 1914 (a date picked by them) the world
catastrophe is bound to occur in the life time of one generation.
"Some people who were alive in 1914 will still be alive when this
system comes to its end." /7/ In a situation like
that the leaders of the sect have two options: cardinal change in their
teachings or 'provoking' the end of the world, so to speak, 'rendering'
help to God in bringing the end about. How it could be done, we can see
from the experience of the sect "Aum Shinrikyo". Using weapons
of total destruction, they organised and carried out terrorist attack on
peaceful non-suspecting citizens. It states in the publications of
Jehovah's Witnesses' sect that: "We live under the yoke of this
wicked system of things, which soon will turn into dust. We must
fight it with all our strength"./12/,
"at present there already exists a gathered remnant of heirs with
Christ". /9/ The story could end unexpectedly and
life of the whole humankind can end at any time. Thus, all we can do is
wait and see what way the thinking process of the Jehovah's Witnesses'
leaders will take and what decision they will make: cynically reform the
doctrine of the sect, knowing that the members are under absolute control,
or bring the matter to a scandalous end. Till then we have to be hostages
of the circumstances and the majority of us are kept in suspense about the
whole matter.

What is awaiting mankind, according to the beliefs of
the sect, or rather what future they are preparing, using the whole might
of their resources, is still to be known. In view of Russia's historical
past (if we haven't forgotten our past yet), it will be easier for Russian
people to imagine and evaluate this coming 'future', than for people in
the West. The 'future' is this: "Satan's world" will be
destroyed. What is "Satan's world"? "Satan's world is
organised human society that exists apart from or outside of God's visible
organisation."/11/ Further, it is explained that
"Satan's world" includes "false religions" (including
all religions except Jehovah's Witnesses), "political systems",
"commercial systems", etc. God "will take action to destroy
the present governments and set up his own righteous government that will
rule the whole earth"/11/, "The war of
God will prepare the way for a righteous new world/11/
"First of all, those who survive Armageddon will have the work of
cleaning up the earth and clearing the away the ruins of this old
system"/11/ , "on earth there will be
faithful men appointed to see that these laws and instructions are carried
out." /11/ Hence "with all other
governments out of the way, God's government will satisfy real needs of
the people." /11/

Is it not true, that all this is painfully familiar.
This ill-fated idea of the coming paradise for the 'righteous', with
preceding destruction of the 'unrighteous' 'goat-like people' (term used
by the sect), as well as the idea of "overseers" supervising
cleaning away "the ruins of the old system" and making sure that
all the laws and instructions are rigorously observed, yes, all this,
including the terminology itself, issues from the possessing high wisdom
"governing body", builders of paradise on blood. Totalitarian
paradise for the survivors "sheep- like ones" is planned to be
established for a thousand years. After "all those who are not
part of the new society will be cut off", with "the
governments and their military might", construction of "totally
peaceful and harmonious world free from crime, prejudice and hatred, free
from political divisions and war"/15/ will
begin. "There will be economic security for all ...radiant
health...complete security and...unending life."/15/

Apparently "God's war" will not ensure the
complete elimination of 'goat-like people' and additional cleansing will
be required during the rule of the thousand year paradasaic kingdom. In
order to stay in paradise a negligent worker "will have to become
honest... Those who come out against God's righteous rule will not be
allowed to continue living to mar the peace and joy of others. They
will receive an adverse judgement"/15/
Reformatories are not provided, discontented are destroyed straight away.
Thus, the "sheep-like ones" will shoulder the responsibility of
building a new paradise. "Consider the challenging and satisfying
work that we will do in construction, landscaping, gardening,... and many
other fields!" /15/

People of older generations in this country who managed
to escape the "adverse judgement" and "were allowed to
continue living" had the opportunity to appreciate satisfying work in
the field of construction and landscaping. Such religious sermons can only
arouse indignation in the hearts of these people and desire to send the
authors of such theories and distributors of their literature to do
construction and landscaping somewhere in the Far North. As for the lost
and spiritually disorientated youth, they are risking to tread on a garden
rake, by being in danger of becoming victims of totalitarian organisations
and getting involved in spreading of their criminal ideas. Jehovah's
Witnesses not only promise us a traditional set of paradise 'blessings',
but they also say that we will be able to enjoy them forever.

It is puzzling that open preaching and spreading of
this ultra-extremist insanity and terror is allowed in this country and in
this society, when we have just lived through the similar insanity and
terror, bearing loss of millions of lives and of innumerable amount of
materials. One publication or public announcement of such plans for the
Russians by Jehovah's Witnesses, or of any other similar organisation,
must be enough to immediately bring their leaders to trial for encroaching
upon life, freedom and safety of Russian citizens. In any case, such
organisation must not be allowed to be officially registered , freely
spread their propaganda or have any other arrangements. Besides, Jehovah's
Witnesses, as a Japanese sect "Aum Shinrikyo", are a sect of
foreign origin, governed from USA, which could lead to interference in our
home affairs, discredit of the state and undermining of national security.

We believe that free dissemination of these anti-human
ideas, propaganda of such antisocial views deeply insults the feelings of
all the Russians, irrespective of their origin, political or religious
background. The office of the Public Prosecutor must see to it that the
organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses is held responsible for its actions.

In their preaching and missionary activity Jehovah's
Witnesses actively falsify the Bible and put it to a fraudulent use,
gambling on its indisputable authority in religion and art. In order to do
that they apply a special system of translations and interpretations with
the purpose of twisting, forging and juggling Bible texts in the required
direction. By doing that, they discredit orthodox understanding of the
Bible. When possible the authoritative, universally recognised Synodal
translation, based on the Septuagint, is used, when it is not appropriate
then other translations are utilised. Readers inexperienced in Biblical
expression, are not able to follow and check all the occasions of
substitutions in the texts. For instance, we read in the publication
"Bible Topics for Discussion"/6/ that God's
Son "was created". Further we are referred to the verse in the
Bible that states: "the first born of every creature"
/Col 1:15/, which from a religious point of view is principally different.

In truth, the barbaric attitudes of Jehovah's Witnesses
to the cultural heritage of Christianity are clearly seen in their
self-determination and the way they treat Christianity. Members of the
sect call themselves Christians /4/ (11/1996). They
write: "we as Christians..." /10/, they
talk about "Christian preaching activity" and at the same time
they announce that "they have nothing in common with
Christendom" /13/ . The level of absurdity and
illogical culture of the sect can be clearly seen in what they say about
Christianity: "No, the nations and churches of Christendom are not
Christian" /7/ or ""Christendom"
is defined as that part of the world where Christianity prevails"!
Jehovah's Witnesses impudently manipulate the church teachings, ways and
understanding, in attempt to find the bases for their own antihuman
theories. They assert that "Jesus Christ refused to become a
political ruler" /11/, but he is ascribed the
political rulership in "God's Kingdom". They also say: "not
a human being but Jesus is our head"/10/, but at
the same time they repudiate the church teaching about the divine nature
of Christ. In /6/ they write: "Jesus does not
need an unbroken line of successors", but in /9/
they state the opposite: "representatives of the Governing body,
consisting of the apostles and older men, came from Jerusalem and passed
on to them the gift of Holy Spirit". The last citation is a vivid
example of how new artificially created terminology is used to refer to
customary things, i.e. the church hierarchy is called "the governing
body". Creating and using new terms is also one of the characteristic
features of a destructive cult (totalitarian sect). It is significant that
in their literature Jehovah's Witnesses, when dating an event, use the
expressions "before common era" and "common era". For
the Christians the only appropriate way of saying it is "before
Christ" and "anno Domini". All that can only be evaluated
as a shameless gambling on the authority of the Bible and Christianity for
their own purpose, which is: a fraudulent recruitment of people, by
winning over their sympathy and resources, posing themselves as "the
true Christians". No wonder that the Church considers the activity of
sects, like Jehovah's Witnesses, as non-ecclesiastical in essence,
provocative, objectively working with the purpose to discredit
Christianity. However, in religious culture there is no such thing as
'buying a patent' or 'buying a right to own somebody's intellectual
property". That is why no matter how much Jehovah's Witnesses twist
the concepts of the historic Christian Church, no one can make them
answerable for it.

More exact and complete theological analysis of all
this juggling and misrepresentation of Bible texts is not what we have
been aiming for, but if such analysis was done, it would have shown the
enormity of grievous harm caused by the sect in this field. However, even
a simple theological review of the structure of their ideology,
propaganda, and system of their moral norms, undoubtedly reveals vividly
expressed aggression towards persons, groups of people, nations,
institutions, religious organisations and so on. Claiming to be a
"religious organisation", Jehovah's Witnesses are particularly
aggressive towards other religions, especially to those who have a
fundamental historical and cultural background. This is understandable,
because it is culture and traditions in particular, that give to the
nations and societies stability, which is so undesirable to the sectarian
propaganda. Lies, groundless accusations, juggling with facts, threats are
employed, insulting religious feelings of millions of people. Here are
some typical quotations: "in this 20th century, virtually
all religions, not just those of Christendom, share responsibility for
wars...and for the severe moral degradation that afflicts mankind." /4/
(1.10.1995) Under "all religions" they mean "false
religions". "Peace and security - unattained goals. Religions -
a great hindrance in achieving peace...The worldwide religious
system...will be completely devastated."/4/
(1.10.1995)

Blunt denial by Jehovah's Witnesses of everything
ecclesiastical is absolutely unacceptable at the time, when Russian
society, as a whole, is turning to the values of Orthodox Christianity in
search of spiritual ideals and healthy morality; at the time when the
Church institution itself is seeking to overcome hard consequences of
massed repressions.

Some other aspects of highly antisocial beliefs and
teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses clearly show them up as a destructive
cult (totalitarian sect). They have imposed many restrictions on their
members. Public and political activities, blood transfusions, medical
treatment (tests and so on), military service, alternative service,
socialising with others are not allowed. Prohibitions of that kind violate
human rights and endanger public security. Members of the sect are taught
to treat the governments and societies as "God's enemies" that
deserve to be eliminated.

Features of a destructive cult (totalitarian sect)
are clearly seen in the organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses in the
manner of recruiting and retaining the members. They employ fraud, and
initially conceal essential aspects of their teachings. Also they use
psychological pressure and force, when coercing and then retaining their
members in the sect. Experts in the field of study of destructive cults
mark out some typical features proving the presence of psychological
violence in their practices. All these features can be traced in the
activities of Jehovah's Witnesses. Let us consider them in a consecutive
order.

1. The way an organisation is governed

- Leaders or "nucleus of leaders" claim to
possess exceptional wisdom, they demand implicit obedience to their
authority and recognition of their privileges.

At the early stages of existence of Jehovah's Witnesses
the founder of the sect and his successors had such authority and
privileges. Later on, the "nucleus of leaders", viewed as elite,
was formed. Elitism is part of the teachings of the sect. The chosen
144,000 - "co-rulers with Christ" are at the top of the pyramid.
Then comes a totalitarian hierarchical system consisting of the
"governing body", "elders", "travelling
overseers", "judicial committees", etc., organising and
directing lives of the main mass of the "brothers".

- The way the members obey the leaders: even if
cardinal changes occur in the ideology, the followers are expected to
accept them and adapt their own views, thus showing absolute devotion to
their leaders.

A vivid example of it is an experience from the history
of Jehovah's Witnesses, when prohibition on vaccination of the members of
the sect was revoked in 1952. According to the teachings of the sect
"the use of blood is prohibited". Thus, blood transfusions,
medical treatment where elements of blood are used, and earlier even
vaccination, are forbidden. These restrictions are absolutely senseless,
because the sect doesn't practice vegetarianism. It is common knowledge
that meat retains half the blood volume of an animal. Similar absurd
restrictions and demands are very effective in creating a secluded group,
different from "those on the outside". Subtly calculated
psychological mechanism of "attaching" people to the cult is
also a feature of a destructive cult (totalitarian sect). When the law of
many countries required vaccination certificate on entry, it presented a
problem for the leaders of the sect, since the expansion of their
missionary work was jeopardised. The law could not have been abrogated on
the demand of the sect. So they decided to allow vaccination purely
with the purpose to expand their field of activity and recruitment of new
members. Nevertheless all the other restrictions on the use of blood
still remain and the organisation's members are persuaded to rigorously
obey them.

- Members of the sect are obliged to adjust their
behaviour to certain discipline patterns and participate in different
activities. There is a prevalence of elite leadership ("God's
government", "governing body") and their group ideology,
over the individuality of the members. Common members are deprived of
their rights.

Members of the organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses are
constantly involved in different kinds of "service" which they
must regularly report - preaching, visits on which they offer others to
join their organisation, etc. Every minute detail is recorded, every hour
spent in their activities is reported. In their 1995 yearly report /16/
everything is scrupulously calculated "the number of baptised",
"the number of pioneers", "the number of
congregations", "the number of Bible studies" (4,865,060),
"the number of hours of study" (1,150,353,444 world-wide). When
someone joins the organisation, he is required to cancel membership in all
other organisations, quit traditional religions, even stop being involved
in such things of little importance as religious rituals and celebrations
and so on.

An anecdotal example of "demonstrative
flogging" took place in 1981 when

G. Franz, a member of the governing body and a nephew
of the president , was expelled from the organisation for having a meal
with a friend who was not a Jehovah's Witness.

When a disputed matter arises in the case of refusal to
have medical treatment or preventing somebody from having medical help (blood
transfusions are prohibited even for the children of the sectarians),
members of the sect are not allowed to deal with the situation according
to their own understanding of it. The organisation reserves the right to
put pressure not only on the doctors, lawyers and governmental workers,
but also on members of the sect who happen to be in such a predicament. It
is known that the psyche of a person, whose life is in a critical phase,
who has just been in an accident or had an injury, is highly unstable. Any
rough interference at that time can be extremely dangerous for one's
mental health. Forcing, intimidating, putting psychological pressure on
someone who is weak, ill or in a critical state is considered to be a
bare-faced crime and is contradictory to the freedom of conscience, human
rights and the right of a person to deal with the questions concerning his
own life.

2. The way a doctrine is presented

- There are doctrines that circulate inside and outside
the sect. Outside doctrines are used as a facade, for advertising. A
classic example of it is hypocritically dropping a 'curtsey' towards
traditional religions.

It is imposed upon the sectarians to use 'the soft
methods' while recruiting in order not to scare away the victims. At the
same time recruiting agents are given following directions: "not all
people claiming to be Christians (Buddhists, Muslims) fully understand the
teachings of their own religion and don't have deep understanding of its
doctrines. That is why it is important to involve them in a
conversation" /12/

When speaking to a Buddhist it is recommended not to
identify themselves as "having something to do with
Christendom", when speaking to a Jew they are to say: "we
worship the God of Abraham", "we are especially interested in
the matter of religious truth". Though it is obvious that this is a
bare-faced lie and a recruiting agent is not looking for any religious
truth. Similar methods of recruitment are applied to people from other
cultures: Hindus, Muslims, etc.

In order to make the recruiters ready for any situation
that they might find themselves in, a real encyclopaedia of tricks and
contrivances is at their disposal. /3/ They must exert
influence on people even by the expressions on their faces, while reciting
"joyful" or "threatening" fragments of their teaching.
When they are performing everything matters - the way they dress, the way
they position their hands and feet.

- There is a conviction that the aim must be reached at
any cost. Anything is acceptable in order to achieve it. Anything that
comes from the leaders is acceptable. Thus, a totalitarian ideology is
formed ("us and them" syndrome), denying "them" all
their rights and freedoms. "There is only one true religion." /11/
As respects "those on the outside" - all means are justified in
getting rid of them, 'goat-like people'. The fate awaiting "Satan's
world" and all those who do not obey "God's government" is
discussed earlier in this document.

- While loudly claiming to love people, talking about
kindness and philanthropy and so on, they approve of amoral things. Thus,
they condemn the Church for the teachings about hell, saying that God is
not capable of causing suffering. Punishment of sinners is not human. At
the same time they teach that the "wicked" 'goat-like people'
will be annihilated. Apostates will receive "an adverse judgement"
and "they will not be allowed to continue living", as if
sanctions of this kind do not cause people to suffer. Remarkable, that
philanthropy towards "those on the outside" is forbidden, their
needs are of no importance.

- Membership in the organisation gives special
privileges, awards special opportunities and authority. Only those in the
organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses are promised a place in the future
paradise, where all their needs will be satisfied, where they will be
given immortality, vibrant health, etc.

- They present their teachings as absolute truth. They
are higher than any secular laws, that is why the laws can be trampled at
any time. Now members of the organisation have to observe the laws of
"this system of things" created by Satan, but when "this
system of things" soon comes to its end, these laws will be
abolished. Meanwhile, members must keep active to speed up the destruction
of "this system" and coming of "God's Kingdom".

3. Mechanisms of getting new members and keeping
them in an organisation.

- Active and passive ways of recruitment are very
methodical, proving that the increase in numbers of the members is the
main purpose.

- Recruiting agents undergo special thorough training
in all aspects of their activity. (Refer to /6/, /8/,
/9/, /13/).

- The atmosphere of "elitism" prevails. The
whole system of cult rituals, i.e. ritual of dedication
("baptism"), is a copy or imitation of the rituals of
traditional religions.

- Cultivating and maintaining fear in adherents, causes
a psychologically unstable and insecure state of the members (one of the
ways to do it is by introducing massed restrictions). They achieve
emotional peaks by having huge gatherings in the stadiums and other public
places. Exhaustive psychological tension is constantly maintained by
making the individuals believe that the end of the world is nigh. All
new-comers have to go through the tiring process of being taught sectarian
doctrines.

- They create or direct to the situations of alienation
from families, relatives, friends and colleagues. By actively instilling
"intellectual chimeras" into the adherents' minds, the old
personality is replaced with the new, more suited to serve sectarian
purposes. All traditional values of the past, family bonds, plans, hopes
for the future, former interests, jobs, social life are abandoned and
crushed. Jehovah's Witnesses demand of their members to break all personal
connections outside the sect. All traditional features of life, as public
or private holidays (birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, etc.),
national or public ceremonies, rituals are viewed as "tests of
faith" inspired by Satan. All these normal things are presented as
something that turns people away from God and therefore condemned together
with this "wicked system of things".

- Adherents' consciousness is under permanent strict
control. It is carried out in the form of reports and diaries. Members are
obligated to give talks in front of a group of people. "Travelling
overseers" and "judicial committees" /14/
also execute current control.

- Members of the cult undergo a change of "sense
of time". Ordinary concepts of the past, present and future are
altered. The usual comprehension of life, based on traditional culture and
values, is not the same any more. A person completely "drops
out" from the habitual time-scale. Waiting for the inevitable end of
the world in a great nervous tension, one is not able to adequately
evaluate his own state and the state of things around him.

- There is a criticism of rational attitude and
thinking and demands to actively use one's intuition, faith, emotions,
etc. which is very damaging for the ability to mentally see things in
proper perspective. There is a demand to refuse rational behaviour in
communications with others and in their attitude to the authorities. In
their publications these points are given special attention. The
publications contain colourful stirring illustrations which help to
swallow and digest absurd and illogical ideas.

- Those who want to leave the cult are filled with
apprehension, knowing that there could be consequences if they undertake
such a step. Warnings about strict supernatural sanctions or death are
issued as a punishment for the apostasy. All the apostates will be
"destroyed by God". "God's Kingdom is a real government
having power and authority." /12/

- The members feel that they are directly or indirectly
dependant psychologically and physically. They are financially exploited.
Members are employed in numerous commercial enterprises of the sect,
receiving "small reimbursement to cover incidental expenses."
Charity is practised only within the sect. Numerous restrictions imposed
on the members, add to the feelings of dependency. The most amoral
restriction is prohibition of blood transfusions for children who are not
able to stand up for themselves being dependant on their parents.

Analysis of the psychological methods used for
recruiting and dealings with the members within the cult, based on
publications of Jehovah's Witnesses /1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 13,
14/, clearly shows that the main purpose of their activity is to
increase the number of followers in order to mentally, psychologically
and financially exploit them. All other aspects of their activity are
secondary. Recruiting new members and expanding the sphere of influence is
all that matters. A famous expert on destructive cults, doctor M.T. Singer
classifies their methods to control the behaviour and mentality of
individuals, in the following way:

- taking over personal time of an individual, guiding
his thinking process by means of compulsory daily "Bible study";
- creating a feeling of helplessness within a new-comer, at the same time
presenting him new role models and behavioural patterns;
- manipulation with rewards and punishment, privileges in hierarchical
structure and sanctions;
- cardinal re-evaluation of former life experience and changing one's
consciousness by getting him involved in mass gatherings;
- an individual, deviating from the "right path", is made to
feel as if something is inherently wrong with him and requires sorting
out;

Compromises are not allowed unless they come "from
above". Members of the sect are not allowed to join the army and even
to accept an alternative service. Helping the wounded is not acceptable
because it will help them to go back fighting.

All-round pressure of this kind, used to govern other
people, is damaging to one's personality and leads to the loss of one's
independence.

Conclusion. According to the definition of
destructive cults (totalitarian sects) given by the contemporary
researchers studying this phenomenon in this country and abroad, the
organisation of "Jehovah's Witnesses" has all the
characteristics of such. The organisation aims to achieve total alienation
of its members from the "outside world" and all other people.
All the values of normal human culture are aggressively denied: religious,
spiritual, political , economic, national and legal. Their activity and
propaganda rouses religious and national dissension, leads to family and
state brake-up. They preach ideas of an absolute superiority of one group
of people over the other, which is damaging for traditional ways of life.
Spreading lies and threats insults religious and national feelings of
others, ruins self-respect.

The activity of the Jehovah's Witnesses' organisation
presents serious danger to society. Awaiting the imminent end of the world
arouses fear, nervousness, psychosis and contains potential danger of
"initiating" the catastrophe by terrorist acts.

The activity of Jehovah's Witnesses is incompatible
with international law of human rights and Russian legislation on freedom
of worship, education and so on. It also violates the tenets of the
Russian Constitution on personal and family rights and freedoms and
security of the state.

The contents of their sectarian propaganda, that is
taking place under the disguise of their religious preaching, deprives
people and organisations of self-respect, undermines mutual understanding
and co-operation in society as a whole: on public, state, religious,
national and cultural levels. The activity of the organisation does not
conform with the purposes and objectives stated in the official
registration certificate. The preaching of establishing of
totalitarian regime in society, mass repressions, state terror, threats of
wars and violence is utterly unacceptable in Russia. It is especially
insulting to the Russians, who in the recent past experienced numerous
sufferings brought upon them by totalitarian regimes. These people have
not yet fully recovered from the tremendous losses they had to bear.
Consideration of all these factors against the background of instability
existing in Russian society, makes the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses and
similar organisations extremely dangerous. That is why the government
should undertake urgent steps to provide a legal defence of Russian
citizens by decisively suppressing the activities of destructive cults
(totalitarian sects) on the territory of Russia.

A list of the publications used, printed by the
religious organisations of Jehovah's Witnesses (in Russian language):

The Expert's Conclusions are prepared by the
specialists of the research group in the field of religion of the
Institute of Personality Development of the Russian Academy of Education
on the request of the Committee for the Rescue of Youth.